Ebonyi First Lady Launches Health Insurance for 10,000 Pregnant Women
By Alex Odeh
The Wife of the Ebonyi State Governor, Mrs. Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, on Wednesday inaugurated the second phase of the enrollment initiative for 10,000 pregnant women into the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Scheme, articulating that the endeavor seeks to mitigate maternal mortality and ensure safer deliveries throughout the state.
Addressing attendees at the Women Development Centre in Abakaliki, Mrs. Nwifuru elucidated that the program—backed by the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Scheme in collaboration with the BERWO Foundation—was meticulously crafted to furnish pregnant women with vital resources, health education, and access to superior maternal care until the moment of delivery.
She underscored that the enrollment is entirely free of charge, asserting that it will contribute to the reduction of maternal fatalities while affirming that “every mother and baby deserves dignity, a healthy beginning, and that no woman should perish in the act of bringing forth life.”
According to her, “In addition to targeting 10,000 pregnant women across the 177 wards that constitute the state, we are advocating for antenatal engagement, safe delivery practices, nutritional awareness, breastfeeding, and emotional support for our expectant mothers.”
“It is with a heart brimming with joy and profound gratitude to God that I welcome you all to this momentous occasion—the official launch of the second phase of the enrollment of ten thousand pregnant women into the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Scheme.
As First Lady and as a mother, I comprehend the joys and tribulations of pregnancy and motherhood. While motherhood ought to embody hope and joy, for numerous women, particularly in rural locales, it frequently represents a journey fraught with trepidation. This is why this initiative resonates deeply with me.”
She expressed her heartfelt appreciation to the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma, the Executive Secretary of the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Scheme, Dr. Divine Igwe, as well as the BERWO Foundation and all healthcare professionals “who tirelessly serve with compassion, skill, and resilience.”
“You are the unsung heroes behind every healthy delivery and every life preserved,” she added.
“To our mothers present today and across Ebonyi State: You are resilient. You are invaluable. And you are the heartbeat of our communities. Today, we honor you not merely for bringing forth life, but for being the bedrock of families and society.”
Mrs. Nwifuru urged the beneficiaries to fully embrace the program.
“I implore you to attend your antenatal and postnatal appointments, heed the counsel of health professionals, and prioritize your health and that of your unborn children. Your health is your power,” she stated.
In his address, the Executive Secretary of the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Scheme, Dr. Divine Igwe, commended the governor’s wife for her unwavering commitment to the health and welfare of women and vulnerable groups within the state. He characterized the initiative as one of the most extensive healthcare interventions in Nigeria.
“This benevolent gesture will instill hope, courage, and vitality in pregnant women because pregnancy should not be perceived as a death sentence,” Dr. Igwe proclaimed.
“Through her endeavors, over 4,000 women and vulnerable individuals, including 300 patients with sickle cell disease, have already been enrolled. Numerous families have reaped the benefits of this intervention, and we shall persist in monitoring them to ensure they receive the highest quality of healthcare delivery”, he said.
